Viña Albina 1982 Gran Reserva

Wine: Viña Albina 1982 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas Riojanas (Cenicero, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 80% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo, 2% Graciano, 3% others (Viura)
ABV: 12% vol.

Winemaking:
Initial fermentation and aging for 12 months in old 20,000-liter wooden vats, where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and stabilizes before being racked for wood aging. It matured for 36 to 48 months in used 225-liter American oak barrels with regular rackings every 8 months. The wines were blended in tanks and further stabilized for 6 to 12 months. Partially filtered before bottling in 1987. Minimum of 3 years of bottle aging in the winery’s underground cellars before commercial release.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Brownish-ruby color with medium-low depth; extremely clean, showing no signs of sediment. Brilliant with amber and reddish reflections. Broad, tile-colored (atejado) rim.

 

Nose: High intensity. It presents a curious "perfumed" note of stable, horsehair, aged woods, and withered flowers, joined by a meaty background of aged game (feather, faisandage). Complex, shifting, and somewhat contradictory due to its volatile character. It evolves steadily, shedding its initial weight to reveal a more recognizable profile. Powerful and mature.

 

Palate: Powerful, mature, and vivid; frank in every sense, without artifice. It bears the hallmark of its vintage, showing the typical robustness of 1982 Riojas, yet almost entirely polished and ready to be enjoyed at its peak—a quality often lacking in other wines from this year. Savory and broad, full of detail with a "thrust" of acidity that keeps any hint of over-ripeness at bay. Extremely long finish.

 

Commentary:
A high-voltage Viña Albina, formidable in its vigor, which at first glance could be mistaken for a great vintage of Monte Real. It has more than enough character to continue thriving for years; a safe bet.

 

Personal Score: 93
Tasting Group Average: 94